SafePlants

Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'

Also known as Paul's Scarlet Hawthorn, Red Hawthorn, Double Red Hawthorn, Red May, Midland Hawthorn, English Hawthorn, or Scarlet Hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' is a popular cultivar prized for its showy spring blooms and suitability for smaller gardens.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a thorny tree.
• Berries are produced.

Considerations for Children

• This plant is a thorny tree.
• Berries are produced.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'
• Synonyms: Formerly called 'Coccinea Plena' or 'Kermesiana Plena'.
• Related Species: A sport of 'Rosea Flore Pleno', the double pink hawthorn.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• Small, rounded, deciduous tree.
• Typically reaches a maximum height of around 6 meters (approximately 20 feet), often less.
• Thorny branches.
• Lobed or toothed leaves.
• Dark, glossy green foliage with five distinctly round lobes.
• Dense, round-headed form.

Flowering and Fruiting

• Produces masses of tiny, double scarlet (pink-red) flowers in tight clusters during May. Flowers may lighten in color with opening.
• Red berries are produced in the fall, persisting until consumed by birds.

Distribution and Habitat

• Originates from Europe.
• A cultivar of the Midland Hawthorn, noted as the most popular variety of the tree in the UK.
• Enormously tough and will grow in just about any location and soil.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Attracts wildlife.
• Berries are a food source for birds.

Quirky Facts

• Originated in 1858 as a sport of 'Rosea Flora Pleno'.
• Scarlet hawthorn could be so named for its bright red fruits produced in late summer, or the leaves that turn reddish-purple in autumn.